"Zane," the Director said thoughtfully.
"Are you still running this place on your own? Haven't you hired any assistant chefs yet?"
As they spoke, the Director casually glanced around the tavern.
He remembered clearly—during his last visit here with his granddaughter Erina—Zane had handled everything himself. From the kitchen to the front of house, not a single assistant had been in sight.
Back then, the tavern had just opened.
Business hours were limited—from 7 p.m. to midnight.
For someone of Zane's caliber, it was understandable he could manage alone.
But now, things were clearly different. The place was busier, the flow of customers more consistent.
And running a tavern wasn't just about chopping vegetables or standing over a stove—it involved preparing ingredients ahead of time, setting up the space, cleaning, closing accounts… countless tiny tasks, all piling up.
From what he could see, Zane was still doing everything himself.
Naturally, the Director was curious.
"Yes," Zane nodded calmly. "I'm still managing it alone. I haven't hired any assistant chefs."
"Would you like some help?" the Director asked, his eyes glinting with meaning.
"Of course," Zane replied with a light smile. "Who wouldn't welcome an extra pair of hands?"
"Excellent!" the Director chuckled, stroking his beard with a warm, grandfatherly air.
"Running a tavern well is a good thing. And if you're ready to bring others in, I can personally arrange for a few seasoned chefs from Totsuki Resort to assist you!"
Though he spoke casually, his intent ran deeper.
He'd already tried once to recruit Zane to serve the Nakiri family—to join Totsuki Academy.
That attempt had ended in rejection.
But that didn't mean he'd given up.
If he couldn't bring Zane into Totsuki, then perhaps… he could bring Totsuki to Zane.
Even just forming a connection—any collaboration—could be enough to keep hope alive for the future.
"Director!" Gin chimed in immediately, catching on to his intention.
"Leave it to me. When I return, I'll personally hand-pick a few excellent candidates and send them here to assist Zane!"
Unexpectedly… Zane shook his head.
Just like before, when he turned down the offer to join Totsuki, he softly refused again.
"No need," he said gently. "I understand your intentions."
"Huh?" Gin blinked. "You're… rejecting it?"
"But didn't you just say you needed assistant chefs?"
The chefs from Totsuki Resort were no ordinary cooks.
Totsuki operated around ten luxurious hotel properties across Japan—each staffed with world-class culinary talent.
The chefs from those hotels weren't just competent—they were industry leaders, with real prestige and experience.
Most chefs would kill for the chance to work with them.
Why on earth would Zane turn this down?
Gin simply couldn't understand.
On the other hand, the Director remained composed.
He wasn't surprised.
"Yes," Zane began, his voice calm and measured.
"I do need assistants. And no doubt, the chefs from Totsuki Resort are skilled. With their help, my tavern might do even better. I could benefit from the resources of Totsuki… and the Nakiri family."
He paused.
"But I have my own standards. My own principles."
"I know the kind of people I want to work with, and the kind of help I actually need."
"To be frank—those chefs from the resort, talented as they are, probably wouldn't meet my expectations."
"So let's drop this. There's no need to continue this discussion."
The air fell quiet for a beat.
"I see," the Director finally said. "Perhaps I was a bit too eager—hoping to create an opportunity for collaboration, and in the process, overlooking the reality of your situation."
Zane's tone had remained respectful.
But his message had been clear.
To him, the chefs from Totsuki—despite their prestige—weren't the kind of people he was looking for.
Still, the Director didn't take offense.
In fact, he seemed to admire Zane's conviction even more.
The conversation came to a close.
For now, the opportunity for collaboration between Totsuki Academy and Zane's tavern had passed.
But all three of them—Zane, the Director, and Gin—understood that circumstances could always change.
In the future, such a collaboration might become inevitable.
Eventually, midnight arrived.
The tavern's business hours ended, and the Director and Gin prepared to take their leave.
As they stepped out into the cool night, the Director turned to Gin with a distant look in his eyes.
"Gin," he said quietly.
"What do you think? Can he really carry this responsibility in the future?"
His thoughts drifted back to that night—years ago—when he'd signed the expulsion order for Joichiro Yukihira. A choice that had changed the future of Totsuki forever.
Gin took a moment before answering.
"His culinary ability is comparable to Joichiro's. Perhaps even superior," he said.
"But more than that—he has something Joichiro lacked at the time: unwavering determination."
"If Joichiro had possessed that kind of resolve… things might have turned out differently."
"So yes," Gin said, eyes firm. "I believe he has the highest chance of leading the next generation of culinary excellence."
"No," the Director said softly.
"He will carry the banner of the new era."
"I believed that since my last visit to this tavern."
Gin raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "What do you mean by lead, Director? Are you saying…?"
The Director didn't answer right away.
His silence spoke volumes.
Gin's expression shifted slowly—first confusion, then realization.
"You're not seriously suggesting… he could lead Totsuki Academy?"
"But… he's not even part of the Nakiri family. How would that be possible? How could he ever be qualified to lead Totsuki?"
He stared at the Director, almost in disbelief.
But deep down, some part of him had already begun to understand.